Got a job that I'm meant to be doing in a few weeks, laying engineered floor on existing softwood floorboards (floating on an underlay). Measured moisture content of the floorboards the other day at around 11% in hallway and 13% in living room. Very little variation within each room, apart from small area in corner of living room by external wall that was just below 17% mc. Customer said there was an issue with rotten joists in this area that have been replaced just before Christmas, and cause of rot (inadequate drainage by external wall, and inadequate ventilation of floor void) has been sorted. Should I be concerned about readings of 13% in rest of living room? If ventilation is now adequate anyone got any idea how long it's likely to be before the floorboards will be dry enough to put new floor down? Customer is keen to get it done asap but I'm reluctant to lay it til mc is around 12% or am I being too cautious? Cheers Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Haven't got figures to hand Matt, but equilibrium was about 11% from memory. Turns out the air bricks are just above ground level and no evidence of a dpc in cavity wall, so I've advised customer not to fit wood floor without sorting this first- got it in writing that they want me to go ahead anyway! Their call Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
If you go ahead and it fails a judge would most likely conclude that you are the expert and therefore hold the responsibility. Beware.
